Linotype-machine



(N Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 1.

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I .INOTYPB MACHINE. No. 558,406. Patented Apr. 14, 1896.

mangez-1- ANDREW BLRAHAM, FNUTITLI'THO.WASHINGTON` D.C.

(N0 Model.)

. LINoT P MAGHI' No' v Patented Apr. 14, 1896.

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` O.A MERGENT'HALBR.

LINOTYPB MACHINE.

No.y 558,406. l Paten-ted Apr. 14, 1896.

on time J -3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTMAR MERGENTI'IALER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL TYPOGRAPHIO COMPANY, OF WEST VIRGINIA.

LINOTYPEjMACHIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,406, dated April 14, 1896.

Application filed May 6,1891. Serial No. 391,792. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTMAR MERGENTHA- LER, of Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Linotype- Maehines, of which the following is a speciication.

At the present day there are in extensive use machines known as linotype-machines for producing linotypes or type-bars, each bearing type characters to print a line. In these machines, represented in numerous Letters Patent heretofore granted to me, the linotype is cast from molten metal in a mold-cell, which is, for the time being, closed at the front by a series of single-letter matrices assembled in the line side by side across the mold. The molten metal is delivered into the mold from the rear side through vents or orices in the mouth of a melting-pot, which latter is seated against and arranged to temporarily close the back of the mold. After the casting operation is performed the mouth of the pot is separated from the mold and the linotype therein, and the mold separated from the matrices in order that the mold may be moved so as to bring the linotype in the path of an ejector, which, acting against the rear edge of the linotype, pushes the same forward out of the mold. In effecting the separation of the parts after the casting operation there is sometimes a tendency of the linotype to adhere to the matrices and to draw forward partly out of the mold, so that it is liable to mutilation at the front and also carried out of the path of the knife by which its base or rear edge is dressed. There is also a tendency at vtimes for the base of the linotype to be so connected with the mouth of the melting-pot that when the latter retreats it will draw the linotype backward out of the mold in an objectionable manner, so that it is liable to be unduly diminished in height by the trimming-knife.

Now it is the principal object of the present invention to secure the retention of the typebar immovably in the mold until it has been separated from the matrices at the front and from the melting-pot at the rear; and to this end it consists in slightly contracting the mold at the rear side, at the ends, so as to prevent the linotype from passing backward.

Another feature of my invention consists in vents formed in the mouth ofthe meltingpot to permit the escape of the air from the mold.

It is to be understood that my improvements may be applied to machines variously constructed as regards their details, but for the purpose of illustration I have shown the improvements in connection with a machine such as represented in Letters Patent of the United States grant-ed to me on the 10th of September, 1890, No.v Ll36,532, to which reference may be had for the details of construction not found herein, the present drawings being limited to an illustration of those parts to which my invention particularly relates.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical central section on the line l l of Fig. 3 through the mold-wheel, the mouth of the melting-pot, and the line of matrices assembled in front of the mold, the parts being in position for casting. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the parts as they appear when separated after the casting action on the line l l of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 4f of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a face View of the mouth of the meltingpot, showing the construction of the surface which closes over and against the mold. Fig. 6 is a View of one of the matrices. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the linotype in the form in which it is cast in the mold. Fig. S is a view of the inished linotype.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a vertical mold-wheel having a mold cell or slot a cut therethrough from front to back, this cell having dimensions corresponding with that of the required linotype or typebar B, such as shown in Fig. S.

C O represent a series of matrices, such as shown in Fig. 6, to be arranged temporarily in line across and against the face of the mold in order to expose their characters or matrices proper, c, in front of the mold-cell a.

Dis a yoke or support by whichl the assembled or alined matrices are held in position in front of the mold.

E is the mouth or spout of a melting-pot having its fiat vertical face adapted to fit IOO over and close the rear side of the mold-cell and having in said face a series of orifices e, opening into the rear side of the mold-cell. The pot is adapted7 as heretofore, to contain a large supply of molten metal and is provided with the customary heating appliances and with a pump or equivalentmeans for forcing the molten metal at the proper time through the orifices e into the mold-cell.

The mold-wheel is carried by a shaft a', mounted in horizontal sliding bearings a2, in order that the wheel may move to and from the stationary line of matrices, and this for the purpose not only of insuring a close contact between the face of the mold and the faces of the matrices, but also for the purpose of drawing the elevated characters of the linotype out of the cavities in the matrices, so that the mold-Wheel may revolve Without mutilating the characters. The meltingpot is also mounted as in my previous machine, so as to move horizontally to and from the rear face of the mold in order to effect the separation of the sprues or gates from the rear edge of the linotype and to release the mold that it may revolve. After the casting of the linotype the mold-wheel revolves until the mold-cell and the linotype therein are carried past a stationary knife F, which dresses off the rear edge of the linotype, and presented in front of a reciprocating ejector G, which drives the linotype forward out of the mold-wheel and between stationary guides II, which dress off its side faces.

The foregoing parts are constructed and operate in essentially the same manner as in my previous machine, and are detailed herein simply to a better understanding of my improvements.

The first improvement consists in providing the face of the mold with one or more notches or overfiows e2, such as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, so that when the mouth of the pot is fitted against and delivers metal into the mold the metal is permitted to slightly overflow the back of the mold, thereby forming on the rear edge of the projecting linotype lips l), such as shown in Fig. '7. These lips resist any forward motion of the linotype within the mold, and when, therefore, the mold is retracted from the matrices the lips compel the linotype to move back with the mold and effect the separation of its front edge from the matrices. This insures the leaving of the linotype in its original position in the mold.

rlhe second improvement consists in forming the mold-cell, as shown in Fig. 3, with inwardly-projectin g shoulders a3 at its ends and at the rear face, or, in other words, in reducing the length of the mold-cell at the rear side, so that it is impossiblefor the linotype to be drawn backward out of the mold. The shoulders a3, holding the linotype firmly against the backward strain, admit of the melting-pot being drawn back so as to rupture or separate the sprues from the rear edge of the linotype without drawing the latter backward. The consequence is that the knife F is prevented vfrom cutting the linotype to less than its proper height.

In order to secure the production of sharp clean type characters, I find it advisable to project the iniiowing metal directly toward and against the matrices at the opposite side of the mold. This maybe effected, however, in such manner that the sprues or gates formed in the inlet-orifices may be readily separated from the pot. I therefore construct the inletorifices in the mouth of the pot in the form shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3. The rear portion of the orifice through which the metal leaves the mouth of the pot is of uniform diameter and in such position that the jet will be projected directly through the mold from the back to the front. The forward portion of each orifice is, however, counterbored or enlarged, as shown at e', in conical or flaring form, with the larger end toward the mold, so that the conical teats, sprues, or gates formed on the back of the linotype will adhere thereto and draw out of the orifices in the mouth of the pot. If the mouth of the pot is not counterbored, the sprues have a tendency to draw back with the pot and pull the semimolten metal out of the back edge of the linotype or slug, thus leaving the latter hollow and weak at its back face. The orifices may be modified somewhat in form, provided they retain the mode of action herein described, the essential feature being the enlargement of their forward or delivery ends7 while the rear ends are adapted to deliver a small clearly-defined jet.

The last feature'of my invention relates to the delivery of the contained air from the mold as it is displaced by the incoming metal. In order to secure a linotype which shall have sharp characters and a solid texture at the front, it is important that a large portion of the air shall be permitted to escape from the mold, and that it shall escape in such manner as to prevent its imprisonment by the metal in the front of the mold. I therefore provide in the face of the melting-pot, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, small vents I, in the form of shallow grooves, commencing at the deliveryorifices and diminishing in depth toward the side faces of the mouth.

In practice it is found that the air compressed by the ini-lowing metal at the front of the mold willbe crowded backward and escape through the vents at the rear of the mold between its face and the face of the pot. rlhe metal will sometimes enter these vents; but as they are very shallow and the fins consequently very thin the latter are immediately chilled and hardened, so that there is no appreciable leakage of the metal. These vents may be modified somewhat in form; but the form shown in the drawings is found to be best adapted for ordinary use.

The contraction of the mold endwise at the IOO IIO

rear side gives a firm support to the slug, so that it will not be drawn backward by the sprues connecting it with the mouth of the pot when the latter retreats. y The construction, however, permits the slug to be driven readily 'forward out of the mold and permits the use of an ejector-blade of a thickness substantially equal to that of the slug or linosubstantially the same thickness as the slug is permitted.

2. In a linotype-machine, the combination of the mold adapted for the formation of a linotype, the melting-pot to close the rear side of the mold, provided with one or more vents I.

3. In combination with the mold, the melting-pot having the delivery-orice and a lat-l erally-extending air-Vent I, extending from the orifice outward and of diminishing depth, as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 24th day of March, 1891, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

OTT. MERGENTHALER. Witnesses:

CLARENCE N. AsHooM, PH. H. HOFFMAN. 

